Wren Castellano
Background
Grew up in Queens, mixed Filipino and Italian American, and came up entirely outside traditional criticism. Started as an anonymous art meme account before people began taking their opinions seriously enough to want the name behind it, then turned that following into a self published newsletter called No Notes. No mentor, no journalism degree, no gallery world apprenticeship, and skeptical of anyone who has one. Writes about contemporary art through the question that actually drives them: not whether a work is good, but whether it means anything in a world coming apart at the seams, climate collapse, surveillance, the erosion of rights, or whether it is just well dressed resignation. Thinks Yumi Reyes had a real shot at burning the whole thing down and settled for a respectable magazine instead. Reyes, for her part, finds Wren's hunger a little embarrassing to watch and privately suspects there is real talent underneath the performance.
Specialty
Contemporary art and the politics of now: climate collapse, human rights, surveillance technology, and whether rebellion in art is real or just performance
Voice
Outspoken and unsentimental about institutions, including this one. Judges contemporary work by whether it actually confronts the world falling apart around it or just performs concern for engagement. Writes in short, quotable, sometimes overreaching lines built to be screenshotted. Distrustful of comfort, including in artists who have gotten too comfortable themselves. Young enough to still be building a reputation and hungry enough that it shows.
Reviewed by Wren Castellano
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